| 摘要 |
913,742. Servicing reactors. SOC. INDATOM, and COMPAGNIE DES ATELIERS ET FORGES DE LA LOIRE. March 25, 1960 [March 27, 1959], No. 10642/60. Class 39 (4). Apparatus for loading and unloading fuel elements in a gas-cooled reactor comprises two sealed compartments 1, 2, the compartment 1 receiving new fuel elements which are subsequently delivered to the reactor and the compartment 2 receiving spent fuel elements which are subsequently discharged therefrom. The compartments are interconnected through a compressor C and valves 3 . . . 6, the arrangement being such that when the gas pressure in one compartment is atmospheric that in the other compartment is equal to the gas pressure in the reactor. In operation, initially, the gas pressure in compartment 1 is atmospheric and all the valves, except valves 7, 9 are closed whereby new fuel elements may be loaded into the compartment 1 through conduit 11. Simultaneously, spent fuel elements may be passed through the conduit 12 into the compartment 2 which is at the reactor pressure. Valves 7, 9 are then closed and valves 4, 5 opened to equalize the pressure in the compartments whereupon valve 4 is closed and valve 6 opened and the compressor C is started to drive the gas and make the pressure in compartment 2 atmospheric and that in compartment 1 equal to the reactor pressure. The new fuel elements may now be transferred to the reactor through conduit 13 by opening valve 8 and the spent elements may be removed through conduit 14 by opening valve 10. Finally, initial conditions are restored by operating the compressor C with valves 5, 6 closed and valves 3, 4 open. In actual instructions of the compartments 1, 2, described with reference to Figs. 2, 3 (not shown), each compartment is movable on wheels and has a fuel element receiving magazine stepped round on a vertical axis by a motor, the elements in compartment 1 being heated by a heating resistance and fan prior to their introduction into the reactor whereas cooling means are provided in the compartment 2 to cool the fuel elements prior to their removal therefrom. |
